αἰδοῖα, Musgrave's correction of ἁδεῖα, is certain. In L the “ἁ” of “ἁδεῖα” is at the end of a v., and the loss of “ι” after it would have been peculiarly easy (see Autotype Facsimile, p. 66 A). The difficulty of ἁδεῖα is not the construction, which, if somewhat harsh, is quite possible: ‘I will counsel in a pleasant vein’ (the adj. used adverbially), ‘though the counsel is adverse.’ The objection is the sense. ‘In a pleasant vein’ must mean, ‘suggesting thoughts of comfort’: as in O. T.82“ἡδύς”, ‘pleasant,’ = ‘bringing good news.’ But, since ἀντία expresses remonstrance against her despair, there is then no proper antithesis with ἁδεῖα. Further, the word required by the context is clearly one which shall temper opposition with deference: as αἰδοῖα does. οἴσω, proferam, ‘bring forward,’ ‘suggest’: cp. O. C. 166 “λόγον εἴ τιν᾽ οἴσεις ι πρὸς ἐμὰν λέσχαν”. Isocr. or. 7 § 6 “τούτων ἐνεγκεῖν ἔχω παραδείγματα”. Not, ‘give an adverse judgment,’ like “ψῆφον φέρειν”.
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Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part V: The Trachiniae. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1902.
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